EFF in Tshwane calls for Paul Kruger’s statute to fall

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Tshwane (Pretoria) on Heritage Day, 24 September 2021, called for the statute of the former president of the Transvaal (South African Republic) to be immediately removed.

pic.twitter.com/5wVLM1sWu7

— Obakeng Ramabodu (@RamaboduObakeng) September 23, 2021

Demonstrators in EFF regalia, waving placards that said “Paul Kruger Must Fall” and “Apartheid And Colonialism Is A Crime Against Humanity” gathered at the statute on Friday, calling on the City of Tshwane to immediately remove it “and substitute it with a different statute or monument”.

The EFF in Tshwane has long launched a campaign where it has demonstrated, calling on the city to remove the statue with immediate effect and substitute it with a different statue or monument.

South Africans should tear down apartheid-era symbols. 🖤💚♥️ pic.twitter.com/V0QJ8wn5a2

— EFF Tshwane Region (@TshwaneEff) September 24, 2021

“South Africans should tear down apartheid-era symbols,” the party said.

To us heritage means the roots of our nation. We must conserve our cultural diversity, preserve it for future identities .

The Regional Chairperson of Tshwane, fighter @RamaboduObakeng is calling for the removal of Paul Kruger monument.

Ayikhale …😎 pic.twitter.com/lXLmOgXZVq

— EFF Tshwane Region (@TshwaneEff) September 24, 2021

The Red Berets added: “To us heritage means the roots of our nation. We must conserve our cultural diversity, preserve it for future identities.”

The Apartheid Statue of Paul Kruger belongs to the Apartheid museum. This statue must only be seen by colonialists not the generation of today @TshwaneEff #PaulKrugerMustFall pic.twitter.com/pFM7MJlHDu

— Obakeng Ramabodu (@RamaboduObakeng) September 24, 2021

The EFF further said Paul Kruger’s statute should be placed in the Apartheid museum and that it “must only be seen by colonialists not the generation of today”.

Meanwhile, in its Heritage Day statement, the EFF called for the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for the appropriation of land without compensation so that “stolen land” can be returned.

“The significance of heritage has to be through embracing and celebration of culture and valuable traditions, yet without land, it is meaningless to celebrate,” the EFF said.

The party further said that the wearing of traditional attire and braaiing on Heritage Day would not downplay the fact that most South Africans “remain landless, jobless and are excluded from the mainstream economy”.

The EFF called on “all indigenous Africans” to “jealously protect” their heritage of African languages.

Read the full statement below: